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POLICE & COURTS

A routine check late last week at the home of a Cheektowaga man who is on probation yielded a large amount of drugs and illegal weapons, Cheektowaga police said.

Officers from Erie County Probation and Cheektowaga police responded Friday to a Windwood Drive home to check on a man there and found drugs packaged for sale along with weapons, including a defaced handgun, police said. All of the property was seized and two people were arrested.

Residents of the house, Nathan Gleen, 34, and Janeen Fields, 30, were charged each with criminal possession of marijuana, three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, two felony counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

Gleen was additionally charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon.

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DWI charge is felony because of teen in car

West Seneca police said Tuesday they have made their first arrest under the state's Child Passenger Protection Act, known as Leandra's Law, which boosts criminal charges for driving while intoxicated if a child younger than 16 is in the vehicle.

David G. McKenzie, 43, of West Seneca faces multiple counts, including a felony DWI under the new law, related to a weekend incident. Around 2:40 a.m. Sunday, Officer Daniel Volpe saw a car crossing the center line on Orchard Park Road and making a dangerous turn onto Potters Road. When the car was stopped, the driver failed several field sobriety tests.

McKenzie had a 14-year-old passenger with him in the car at the time, police said. He faces two felony DWI charges, one because he had a previous DWI conviction in the past 10 years, and another because he had a minor in the car with him when he was stopped. He also faces several other charges, including operating a vehicle without a license.

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Alden woman injured in collision with bus

An Alden woman was listed in fair condition at Erie County Medical Center late Tuesday following a collision with a school bus at Genesee Street and Billo Road in Alden, Erie County sheriff's officials said.

Deputies said that about 8:30 a.m., an Alden school bus, its lights flashing, with 11 students aboard, was stopped at the intersection to pick up more students when it was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by Kimberly Bifulco, 47.

Bifulco suffered leg and facial injuries and was taken to ECMC by ambulance. There were 11 students on the bus. All were evaluated, and no injuries were discovered. The students were later put on another bus and taken to school, police said.

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K-9 rookie racks up first arrest on the job

The newest member of the Buffalo Police K-9 force is being credited with the arrest of a Buffalo man and seizure of a pound of marijuana and an ounce of crack cocaine, Buffalo police said Tuesday.

Stark and his handler, Officer James Howe, were called to a traffic stop about 2:30 p.m. Sunday on Harvard Place near Main Street, where the dog found rugs stashed in a compartment beneath a car seat, police said.

Charges against Frederick Miller, 55, included criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of marijuana and several traffic violations.

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Police issue alert for missing woman, 85

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. -- Niagara Regional Police are asking for the public's help in finding an 85-year-old Niagara-on-the-Lake woman.

Police said Jill Williams, a resident of Niagara River Parkway, was last heard from, in her home, late Sunday. The woman was described as white, 5-foot-6, 185 pounds with short gray hair and hazel eyes. Police added that she takes medication for health issues, wears glasses for reading and walks with a cane. She was believed to be wearing slacks and a lightweight beige jacket.